Prison terms for both involved in robbery at Palms Internet Cafe

Published: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 4:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 4:21 p.m.

Two men who attempted to rob an Internet cafe — only to be injured themselves when a patron opened fire — have both been sentenced to prison.

Duwayne B. Henderson, 20, accepted a plea negotiation from the State Attorney's Office on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon; and to a third-degree felony, criminal mischief with more than $1,000 worth of damage.

Henderson will serve two concurrent five-year prison sentences. He will receive a 24-day credit for time served in jail pending resolution of the case.

He also has been ordered to complete five years of probation and 200 hours of community service and has been ordered to pay restitution plus court costs.

Before leaving the courtroom Tuesday, Henderson stood before Circuit Judge Robert Hodges in an orange-and-white jump suit and apologized.

"I would just like to say committing that crime was one of the worst mistakes I ever made in my life and I'd like to apologize to the people inside the Internet cafe," he said. "I take full responsibility for my actions."

Co-defendant Davis Germaine Dawkins, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charges in February and was sentenced in April to four years in prison followed by four years of probation.

Both defendants are prohibited from contacting each other.

Last July 13, the Marion County Sheriff's Office received a call at 9:54 p.m. regarding a robbery at Palms Internet Cafe on State Road 200. Witnesses told authorities one man was armed with a baseball bat and another with a handgun. They had barged into the business and ordered about 30 patrons to drop to the floor and give the men their money.

During the incident the man carrying the baseball bat smashed a computer valued at $1,200.

Patron Samuel Williams shot at the robbers using his own handgun, hitting at least one of the men who fled the store. Both men received treatment for their injuries at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

<p>Two men who attempted to rob an Internet cafe — only to be injured themselves when a patron opened fire — have both been sentenced to prison.</p><p>Duwayne B. Henderson, 20, accepted a plea negotiation from the State Attorney's Office on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony, attempted robbery with a deadly weapon; and to a third-degree felony, criminal mischief with more than $1,000 worth of damage.</p><p>Henderson will serve two concurrent five-year prison sentences. He will receive a 24-day credit for time served in jail pending resolution of the case.</p><p>He also has been ordered to complete five years of probation and 200 hours of community service and has been ordered to pay restitution plus court costs.</p><p>Before leaving the courtroom Tuesday, Henderson stood before Circuit Judge Robert Hodges in an orange-and-white jump suit and apologized.</p><p>"I would just like to say committing that crime was one of the worst mistakes I ever made in my life and I'd like to apologize to the people inside the Internet cafe," he said. "I take full responsibility for my actions."</p><p>Co-defendant Davis Germaine Dawkins, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charges in February and was sentenced in April to four years in prison followed by four years of probation.</p><p>Both defendants are prohibited from contacting each other.</p><p>Last July 13, the Marion County Sheriff's Office received a call at 9:54 p.m. regarding a robbery at Palms Internet Cafe on State Road 200. Witnesses told authorities one man was armed with a baseball bat and another with a handgun. They had barged into the business and ordered about 30 patrons to drop to the floor and give the men their money.</p><p>During the incident the man carrying the baseball bat smashed a computer valued at $1,200.</p><p>Patron Samuel Williams shot at the robbers using his own handgun, hitting at least one of the men who fled the store. Both men received treatment for their injuries at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.</p><p><i>Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com.</i></p>